Check Out Sam Fowler’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Fowler

Hi Sam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Artistic expression has always been a huge passion of mine. Growing up, my dad used to hand pick antiques and restore them in our barn. I would watch him turn something old and worn to something unique and beautiful. As I thought back, I realized that I had created many pieces out of wood thoughout the years. I have a distant memory of building a wine rack out of pallets with my grandfather. In 2015, I build a 10 ft tree branch replica our of pine, and It hangs on my living room wall to this day. This piece has moved with me cross country three times. It is has found its final hometown in Fort Collins, Colorado.

In December 2019, I became very ill. I had been with my partner, Conor, for just two months before being diagnosed with Crohns Disease. My physical and mental health took a big hit. My life as I knew it, would never look the same. The career that I had worked so hard for was beginning to take a told on my body. At the time, I was a Director for a Special Education School in Connecticut.

On Valentines Day 2020, Conor and I signed a lease in Fort Collins Colorado. I wanted a change and I wanted to live my life to the fullest. I stuck with my career in Education for as long as I could, and ended up making the decision to end it in May of 2022. At this time, my health was very unstable and uncertain. We made the difficult decision to leave the town that we grew to love so much, and head back to the East Coast to be closer to our families.

Conor and I were getting ready to be married in September of that year. While wedding planning, we decided we wanted to incorporate mountains. So, I made mountains. We had a beautiful wedding. After our wedding, I spent all of my free time making art. I was making a lot of art reminiscent of Colorado. We were both really missing the town that we had spent loving the last two years..

So we packed up our two dogs, our 43 plants, and headed back! Since being back, I have dedicated a lot of my time to creating. I am so inspired by the beautiful people, community and natural world around me. Living in a town that has so much love for its local artists has been very fulfilling. Since being back, I have had the amazing opportunity to hold vendor spots at several local Makers Markets. This can be a lot of work but is always so worth it. I love getting to chat and meet everyone who stops by. I have also been lucky enough to display my art in local Fort Collins shops.

Art has been very therapeutic to me, especially these last few years. It’s a way to express myself, to share my world and my experiences, and to escape the bad days. I am thankful to be in such a beautiful town, surrounded by beautiful people and community. There is no feeling quite like you get when you dedicate so much time and love into creating something and someone who you’ve just met, or never met loves it just as much as you. My goal is to keep creating and sharing my art. I hope to inspire others with disabilities to do something that makes them happy.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running an Etsy shop has its challenges, especially on tough health days, but I’ve learned to pace myself. The biggest hurdle, though? Our new place! We chose it for the huge detached workshop—plenty of space to spread out, create, and make all the sawdust my heart desires…but there is no heat.

It’s too big for a space heater, so now my workdays revolve around the warmest hour. I bundle up like I’m braving the Arctic, checking the weather like it’s a strategy game. But spring is coming!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in handcrafted, one-of-a-kind wood pieces. My most requested work is my companion figures—small, meaningful sculptures that represent a person and their pet. While I’m not the first to create something like this, I believe I’m the first to hand-cut each piece with a scroll saw—no lasers—while also customizing them to match the pet’s exact body shape, coat color, and markings.

Beyond companion figures, my biggest passion is wall art—bold, geometric, textured, and three-dimensional. I love the process of cutting, layering, and arranging each piece into a balanced design. Some of my larger works are up to 2×4 feet, and creating them is incredibly therapeutic for me.

Sustainability is at the heart of my work and what truly sets me apart. I plant at least one tree annually per item sold and last year helped plant 1,372 seedlings with One Canopy in Loveland—far exceeding my sales! I’m also transitioning to zero-VOC paints and stains, a healthier and safer choice for both me, my customers, and the planet. It’s a big investment, but one that’s absolutely worth it.

What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a huge animal and earth lover—the kind of kid who wanted to help every creature I came across. One of my memories is learning about animal testing at around 12 years old, jumping on our old dial-up computer, printing out an article, and going door to door alone to hand out, and educate my neighbors and urge them to choose cruelty-free brands.

I was always pushing my family to recycle, use better products, and avoid chemicals, wanting to do right by the planet. Personality-wise, I was quiet and shy—until I was around people I loved and felt comfortable with. Then, I was a loud, goofy kid who never stopped talking. The kid who would get notes home from school saying I was a “social butterfly”.

Pricing:

• Companion figures $30-46
• Wall art $100-500
• Custom pieces $100-500
• Hanging moon plant holders $45
• Monstera leaf tables $65-150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Mountaintimewoodworking.com
• Instagram: @mountaintimewoodworking
• Facebook: @mountaintimewoodworking
• Other: https://mountaintimewoodwork.etsy.com/